Скачать с ютуб How data scientists can truly influence decisions: A Principal Data Scientist's journey at Atlassian в хорошем качестве

How data scientists can truly influence decisions: A Principal Data Scientist's journey at Atlassian

00:00 Highlights 01:11 Introduction and Atlassian's Growth 02:44 What Make A Good DS 04:50 Being Right vs Being Effective 08:08 Where Is the Value of DS 10:31 Evolution of DS Roles 14:40 Real Business Need rather than Methodology Excerpts and Explanations: "I think the part that is being less talked about is how do you become a more effective communicator. Earlier in my career, I prioritized more being right than anything else. So as long as I'm right, everything else doesn't matter because I have the facts behind me. Throughout my career, I have come to realize, being right is not enough. I need to be more effective." Derek emphasizes that technical expertise is just the baseline for data scientists. The real differentiator is the ability to communicate insights effectively and influence decision-making within the organization. "By sacrificing being completely right at the start and just have a compromise to get things going, you'll be a lot more effective." He discusses the importance of flexibility when introducing new concepts like experimentation to teams. Overloading them with rigorous methodologies can be counterproductive; instead, start simple to foster engagement and gradually introduce complexity. "If we're giving valuable information to the business and that influences a particular decision, I think that's where the value comes in." Derek defines the core value of a data scientist as providing actionable insights that directly impact business decisions, rather than just delivering analyses or reports. "As you progress in the data scientist career, you'll get less and less instructions about what you should do. At that point, you should come up with your own ideas and then start pushing for it." He highlights the evolving role of a data scientist—from executing assigned tasks to proactively identifying problems and proposing innovative solutions that drive the business forward. "Everyone wants to do cool things, but a solution looking for a problem will never work. If you have a problem and you're finding a solution, I think that is where you get the real value." Derek stresses that data science initiatives should be driven by actual business needs, not just the allure of using advanced or trendy methodologies without a clear purpose. Summary: In this engaging discussion, Derek, a principal data scientist at Atlassian and one of the company's earliest data scientists, shares valuable insights into the evolving role of data scientists in tech companies. He reflects on his journey from focusing solely on technical correctness to understanding the paramount importance of effective communication and influence. Derek reveals that while technical skills are essential, they are merely the entry ticket. The real impact comes from being able to communicate complex data insights in a way that resonates with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders. He recounts how, earlier in his career, he believed that being right was all that mattered. Over time, he realized that without effective communication, even the most accurate insights could fail to drive action. He illustrates this with examples from Atlassian, such as introducing experimentation to teams unfamiliar with the process. Instead of overwhelming them with statistical rigor, he advocates for starting with the basics—like understanding control and treatment groups—and gradually building sophistication. This approach not only fosters collaboration but also accelerates adoption of data-driven practices. Derek also discusses the transition data scientists undergo as they advance in their careers. Moving beyond executing analyses, senior data scientists are expected to proactively identify business problems and develop innovative solutions. He shares how addressing real business needs, such as devising alternative methods for product experimentation when sample sizes are small, leads to more significant impact than applying cutting-edge techniques for their own sake. Throughout the conversation, Derek underscores that the ultimate value a data scientist brings is in providing actionable information that influences decisions and drives the business forward. It's not just about crunching numbers—it's about turning data into strategic insights that shape the company's direction.